Embassy of India in Madrid

Embassy of India in Madrid, Spain

Overview

The Embassy of India in Madrid serves as India's principal diplomatic mission in Spain and Andorra, located on Avenida Pio XII in Madrid near the crossing with Calle de los Caidos de la Division Azul. The embassy provides consular services to Indian nationals throughout Spain and Andorra, processes visa applications for Spanish residents traveling to India, and facilitates bilateral relations between India and Spain in areas including trade, investment, technology cooperation, renewable energy, infrastructure, cultural exchange, and tourism. India and Spain share historical ties dating to the 16th century when Portuguese traders first introduced Spanish goods to India, evolving into a dynamic partnership spanning trade, investment, culture, and technology. Spain is India's 6th largest trade partner in the European Union with bilateral trade reaching USD 9.32 billion in 2024 (growing over 12% from previous year). India also operates a Consulate General in Barcelona serving Catalonia and northeastern Spain, and Honorary Consulates in Tenerife (Canary Islands) and Andorra. The Indian diaspora in Spain is diverse and growing, including IT professionals, business owners, students (Spain is increasingly popular for Indian students, particularly for MBA and engineering programs), healthcare professionals, researchers, and families concentrated in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, and Canary Islands. Spain is India's 16th largest investor with cumulative FDI of USD 4.29 billion (April 2000-March 2025), with over 280 Spanish companies operating in India. Indian investment in Spain totals approximately USD 900 million with about 94 Indian companies, making India among Spain's top 20 investors globally and top 5 from Asia.
Read more

Visa Services

Spanish passport holders can apply for Indian e-Visa for tourism, business, medical treatment, medical attendant, and conference purposes. E-Visa facility has been available for Spanish nationals since November 3, 2015, requiring application four days in advance to obtain Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before traveling to India. The visa is not granted on arrival at the airport. E-Visa applications are submitted online at indianvisaonline.gov.in with 24/7 support center available at +91-11-2430666 or indiatvoa@gov.in. Applicants must carry the passport mentioned on the ETA when traveling. For regular visas (work, study, long-term business, research, journalism, employment, or other purposes not covered by e-Visa), Spanish residents must apply through BLS International, authorized service provider for consular, passport, and visa (CPV) services since January 1, 2025. BLS operates from three locations: Madrid (Ground Floor, Calle de Cardenal Marcelo SpĂ­nola 8, 28016), Barcelona (Second Floor, 103 Paseo de Gracia), and Tenerife (Ground Floor, Calle Aguere 9, 38003 Santa Cruz de Tenerife). Appointments must be scheduled through blsinternational.com/india/spain/. BLS helpline: +34-930306449, email: infoindia-spain@blshelpline.com. For visa queries and clarifications, contact visa.madrid@mea.gov.in or ssvisa.madrid@mea.gov.in (for journalist visas). Required documents typically include passport with minimum 6 months validity, photographs, travel itinerary, proof of financial means, and purpose-specific documents. Processing times vary by visa category. Spanish travelers should apply well in advance of planned travel dates.
Read more

Consular Services

The consular section provides comprehensive services for Indian nationals in Spain and Andorra, including passport services (reissue, replacement for lost/damaged passports, fresh passports for newborns, emergency certificates), Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card applications and services (popular among Spanish citizens of Indian origin for visa-free India travel), PIO card services, visa services for family members, birth and death registration, document attestation, police clearance certificates (including supplementary PCC), power of attorney services, and emergency consular assistance. All consular services are processed through BLS International with operations in Madrid, Barcelona, and Tenerife. Consular service hours: 09:00-12:30 for application acceptance, 10:30-13:00 for document delivery, Monday-Friday. Token numbers issued until 11:30. For passport-related queries: passport.madrid@mea.gov.in. For OCI card queries: oci.madrid@mea.gov.in. For visa and PIO card queries: visa.madrid@mea.gov.in. For consular services (attestations, certificates, birth/death registration, supplementary PCC, POA): cons.madrid@mea.gov.in. For queries about postal applications: post.madrid@mea.gov.in. When contacting the embassy, provide: (1) applicant name, (2) contact details (mobile, email), (3) application date, (4) receipt number if any, (5) old passport number if applicable, (6) subject (passport, PIO, OCI, visa, consular), (7) brief description of issue. The Indian community in Spain includes IT professionals (Indian IT companies have presence in Madrid and Barcelona), pharmaceutical professionals, researchers (collaborating with Spanish universities and research institutions), business owners (particularly in hospitality, retail, and trading), students (increasingly studying in Spanish universities and business schools), and families. Emergency consular assistance for Indian nationals in Spain or Andorra is available 24/7 at emergency number +34 628319030 for situations including loss of passport by tourists/businessmen, death, or serious illness of immediate family. For non-emergency inquiries, phone calls can be made 09:30-13:00 and 14:00-17:00 on working days to reception: +34 91 309 88 82.
Read more

Trade & Export Support

India and Spain maintain robust and rapidly growing trade relations with Spain being India's 6th largest trade partner in the European Union. Bilateral trade in goods reached USD 9.32 billion in 2024, growing by over 12% from the previous year. Indian exports to Spain grew 9.4% to USD 6.93 billion, while imports from Spain grew 24% to USD 2.39 billion. India's top exports to Spain include chemical products, mineral fuels and mineral oils and distillation products, electrical machinery and equipment, iron and steel, apparel and clothing accessories (both woven and knitted/crocheted), nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances, marine products (India is major seafood supplier to Spanish market), articles of leather (saddlery and harness), and pharmaceutical products (India supplies significant generic medicines to Spain). India's major imports from Spain include nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances and parts, chemical products, tanning and dyeing extracts, mineral fuels and mineral oils and distillation products, bituminous substances and mineral waxes, plastics and articles thereof, and electrical machinery and equipment and parts. The India-Spain Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation (JCEC), established under the 1972 Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement, has met twelve times with the 12th round held in New Delhi in April 2023 and the next session planned for 2025 in Spain. The India-Spain CEOs Forum was constituted in February 2015 under the JCEC framework, with formal meetings held in Madrid during Prime Minister Modi's visit in May 2017 and in Mumbai during President Pedro Sánchez's visit in October 2024. Both countries established a 'Fast Track Mechanism' during President Sánchez's 2024 visit to facilitate mutual investments. The embassy's economic and commercial section (sscom.madrid@mea.gov.in) actively supports trade promotion and business facilitation.
Read more

Investment Opportunities

Spain is India's 16th largest investor with cumulative FDI stock of USD 4.29 billion (April 2000-March 2025). Over 280 Spanish companies operate in India primarily in metallurgical industries, renewable energy (Spain's expertise in solar and wind energy aligns with India's renewable energy goals), automotive and automotive components (Spanish automotive suppliers integrated with Indian manufacturing), ceramics (Spanish ceramic companies leverage India's production capabilities), and infrastructure including highways, transmission lines, tunnels, and metro stations (Spanish engineering and construction expertise in Indian infrastructure projects). Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka are major destinations for Spanish investments. Major Spanish companies in India include infrastructure developers, renewable energy companies, automotive component manufacturers, ceramic and tile manufacturers, and engineering firms. Indian investment in Spain totals approximately USD 900 million with about 94 Indian companies operating primarily in software and IT services (Indian IT companies serving Spanish and European markets from Spain), pharmaceuticals (Indian pharmaceutical companies with European operations based in Spain), chemicals, and logistics. India ranks among Spain's top 20 investors globally and top 5 from Asia. During President Sánchez's October 2024 visit, both leaders welcomed the establishment of a 'Fast Track Mechanism' to facilitate mutual investments, and President Sánchez attended the India-Spain Business Summit organized by CII and DPIIT along with ICEX (Spain's trade and investment body) to promote trade and investment cooperation. The embassy provides information on investment opportunities, regulatory frameworks, and facilitates business connections for Spanish investors exploring Indian markets and Indian investors seeking opportunities in Spain and broader European Union.
Read more

Business Support

The embassy actively facilitates India-Spain business relations through its economic and commercial section (sscom.madrid@mea.gov.in). Spanish companies exploring Indian markets can contact the commercial section for market intelligence, regulatory guidance, sector-specific information, business contacts, and facilitation support. The embassy coordinates with Spanish chambers of commerce, CEOE (Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations), ICEX (Spain's Institute for Foreign Trade), and Spanish business associations to support bilateral commercial opportunities. Services include business matchmaking, information on investment procedures, facilitation of trade delegations and business missions, support for participation in trade fairs and exhibitions, commercial connections, and networking events. The India-Spain Business Summit held during President Sánchez's visit in October 2024, organized by CII and DPIIT with ICEX, exemplifies institutional support for business engagement. India actively participates with high-level delegations and India pavilions in major Spanish trade fairs including FITUR (tourism - Madrid is major European tourism hub), Mobile World Congress (telecom - Barcelona hosts world's largest mobile industry event), Smart City Expo World Congress (smart cities - Barcelona), Intergift (decoration and gifts), Seafood Expo Global, FIMA Agricola (agricultural machinery), Hispack (packaging), Alimentaria (food, beverage, and gastronomy - Barcelona), Cevisama (ceramic tiles - Valencia), Barcelona Textile Expo, BIEMH (machine tools - Bilbao), Fruit Attraction (fresh fruits and vegetables - Madrid), Vitafoods Europe (nutraceuticals), and ARCO (contemporary art - Madrid). Key sectors of bilateral business cooperation include renewable energy (solar and wind), infrastructure and construction, automotive and components, metallurgical industries, ceramics and tiles, IT and software services, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, chemicals, food processing and agriculture, tourism and hospitality, and logistics. Innovation and technology collaboration is robust through the Global Innovation & Technology Alliance (GITA) and Spain's Centre for Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI), which established the India-Spain Program of Cooperation on Industrial Research and Development providing financial support for joint R&D projects between Indian and Spanish industries and academic institutions.
Read more

Cultural & Educational Programs

India and Spain maintain vibrant cultural and educational ties reflecting shared interests in culture, history, art, and education. Cultural cooperation encompasses Indian classical and contemporary music, dance, cinema, yoga (extremely popular in Spain with numerous yoga centers and practitioners), literature, visual arts, and festivals. The embassy's cultural section (sscul.madrid@mea.gov.in) organizes events celebrating Indian festivals including Diwali, Holi, Republic Day (January 26), Independence Day (August 15), and International Day of Yoga (June 21), along with cultural performances, film screenings, exhibitions, and lectures. Indian classical dance (Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi) and music performances are held at major Spanish cultural venues. Educational cooperation is growing with increasing numbers of Indian students attending Spanish universities and business schools, particularly for MBA programs, engineering, architecture, hospitality management, and Spanish language studies. Spanish universities value Indian students for academic excellence and cultural diversity. Several Spanish universities have programs in Asian studies including India, and academic exchanges facilitate student and faculty mobility. The embassy supports scholarship programs and facilitates academic connections. Spanish students participate in exchange programs in India for studies in Indian culture, Sanskrit, yoga, Ayurveda, and specialized academic fields. Research collaboration includes university partnerships and joint research programs in areas including renewable energy, climate science, water management, sustainable development, biotechnology, and social sciences. Cultural institutions and Spanish organizations promote Indian culture and Spain-India friendship. Tourism forms an important cultural connection with Spain being a popular destination for Indian tourists (cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Granada, Valencia attract Indian visitors interested in Spanish history, architecture, art, flamenco, and cuisine) and increasing numbers of Spanish tourists visiting India for cultural heritage, yoga and wellness tourism, Ayurveda, beaches (Goa, Kerala), and spiritual experiences (Varanasi, Rishikesh, Buddhist sites).
Read more

Service Area

The Embassy of India in Madrid has jurisdiction over Spain and the Principality of Andorra. For consular services, residents should contact the appropriate mission based on location: Embassy in Madrid (serving Madrid, central, southern, and western Spain), Consulate General in Barcelona (serving Catalonia, Aragon, Balearic Islands, and northeastern Spain; Consul General: Mr. Inbasekar Sundaramurthi; address: Floors 16 & 17, Torre Allianz, Carrer de Tarragona 107-109, Sants-Montjuic, Barcelona 08014; phone: +34 933 959 355; email: hoc.barcelona@mea.gov.in; consular queries: cons.barcelona@mea.gov.in; working hours: 09:30-18:00 Monday-Friday), Honorary Consulate General in Tenerife (serving Canary Islands; Honorary Consul General: Mr. Gope Mahtani; address: Villalba Hervas No. 1 Entlo, 38002 Santa Cruz de Tenerife; phone: 92 224 35 03; email: gopemahtani@gmail.com; working hours: 10:00-13:30 Monday-Friday), and Honorary Consulate in Andorra (Honorary Consul General: Ms. Madhu Jethani Aswani; address: Av. PrĂ­ncep Benlloch 89, baixos, AD500 Andorra la Vella; phone: +376 327 801; email: majethani@hotmail.com). All passport, visa, and OCI services are processed through BLS International with centers in Madrid, Barcelona, and Tenerife. For general embassy inquiries, contact +34 91 309 88 82 or hoc.madrid@mea.gov.in. For specific services: administrative matters (hoc.madrid@mea.gov.in), press/culture/education/scholarships (sscul.madrid@mea.gov.in), visas (ssvisa.madrid@mea.gov.in, visa.madrid@mea.gov.in), economic/trade/commercial (sscom.madrid@mea.gov.in), passports (passport.madrid@mea.gov.in), OCI (oci.madrid@mea.gov.in), consular services (cons.madrid@mea.gov.in), postal applications (post.madrid@mea.gov.in). Emergency assistance: +34 628319030 (24/7 for passport loss, death, serious illness).
Read more

Appointment Information

All consular and visa services require advance appointments scheduled through BLS International at blsinternational.com/india/spain/. BLS operates from Madrid (Ground Floor, Calle de Cardenal Marcelo SpĂ­nola 8, 28016), Barcelona (Second Floor, 103 Paseo de Gracia), and Tenerife (Ground Floor, Calle Aguere 9, 38003 Santa Cruz de Tenerife). BLS helpline: +34-930306449, email: infoindia-spain@blshelpline.com. Consular service hours at embassy: 09:00-12:30 for application acceptance, 10:30-13:00 for document delivery, Monday-Friday. Token numbers issued until 11:30. If queries not answered by BLS within 3 working days, email the embassy with: (1) applicant name, (2) contact details (mobile, email), (3) application date, (4) receipt number if any, (5) old passport number if applicable, (6) subject (passport/PIO/OCI/visa/consular), (7) brief description of issue. For telephone inquiries (only if information not on website), call 09:30-13:00 and 14:00-17:00 on working days. Reception: +34 91 309 88 82. Chancery fax: +34 91 345 1112, Consular fax: +34 91 345 1900. Emergency situations (passport loss by tourists/businessmen, death, serious illness of immediate family): call +34 628319030 any time. Walk-in services not available; appointments mandatory.
Read more

Special Notes

The Embassy of India is located at Avenida Pio XII 30-32, 28016 Madrid, near the crossing of Avenida Pio XII and Calle de los Caidos de la Division Azul in Madrid's ChamartĂ­n district. The location is accessible via Madrid Metro Line 9 to Pio XII station (exit Manuel Montilla) or by bus routes 16, 29, 150, 70, and 107. Madrid has an excellent public transportation system operated by Metro de Madrid and EMT (municipal buses). Street parking in the area may be limited; public transportation is recommended. Visitors must present valid government-issued photo identification (passport) and pass security screening to enter embassy premises. Only persons with confirmed appointments or official business will be admitted. The embassy observes both Indian and Spanish public holidays (see holiday list on embassy website). Major Indian celebrations including Republic Day (January 26), Independence Day (August 15), Gandhi Jayanti (October 2), and Diwali feature flag-hoisting ceremonies, cultural programs, and receptions attended by the Indian community, Spanish officials, diplomats, business leaders, and friends of India. International Day of Yoga (June 21) is celebrated with mass yoga demonstrations and events across Spain. For Spanish travelers to India, comprehensive travel information is available on the embassy website including e-Visa applications (indianvisaonline.gov.in), regular visa requirements through BLS, health recommendations (consult Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs travel advice for India, consider vaccinations, malaria prophylaxis for certain regions), safety information, and tourist destinations. For Spanish citizens and residents of Indian origin, OCI status offers visa-free entry to India, permission for long-term stay, and parity with non-resident Indians in economic and educational matters (excluding political rights and agricultural land ownership). OCI eligibility, application procedures, and benefits available through embassy and BLS. India's diverse attractions including historical monuments, spiritual centers, Himalayan regions, beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, cultural festivals, yoga and wellness retreats, Ayurvedic treatments, and cuisine attract Spanish travelers interested in culture, spirituality, nature, and adventure. The embassy can provide information on traveling to India, business opportunities, cultural programs, and bilateral cooperation opportunities.
Read more